Detection of fungal pathogens using the polymerase chain reaction

ABSTRACT

DNA sequences from the Internal Transcribed Spacers of the ribosomal RNA gene region are described for different species and strains of Septoria, Pseudocercosporella, Fusarium and Mycosphaerella. Specific primers from within these sequences are identified as being useful for the identification of the fungal isolates using PCR-based techniques.

This application is a 371 of PCT/US95/04712 filed Apr. 19, 1995 and a CIP of U.S. Ser. No. 08/233,608 filed Apr. 25, 1994 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,238.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of species-specific primers in polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of fungal pathogens. The use of these primers enables the detection of specific isolates of fungal pathogens and the monitoring of disease development in plant populations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Diseases in plants cause considerable crop loss from year to year resulting both in economic deprivation to farmers and additionally in many parts of the world to shortfalls in the nutritional provision for local populations. The widespread use of fungicides has provided considerable security against plant pathogen attack. However, despite $1 billion worth of expenditure on fungicides, worldwide crop losses amounted to approximately 10% of crop value in 1981 (James, 1981; Seed Sci. & Technol. 9: 679-685).

The severity of the destructive process of disease depends on the aggressiveness of the pathogen and the response of the host. One aim of most plant breeding programs is to increase the resistance of host plants to disease. Typically, different races of pathogens interact with different varieties of the same crop species differentially, and many sources of host resistance only protect against specific pathogen races. Furthermore, some pathogen races show early signs of disease symptoms, but cause little damage to the crop. Jones and Clifford (1983; Cereal Diseases, John Wiley) report that virulent forms of the pathogen are expected to emerge in the pathogen population in response to the introduction of resistance into host cultivars and that it is therefore necessary to monitor pathogen populations. In addition, there are several documented cases of the evolution of fungal strains which are resistant to particular fungicides. As early as 1981, Fletcher and Wolfe (1981; Proc. 1981 Brit. Crop Prot. Conf.) contended that 24% of the powdery mildew populations from spring barley, and 53% from winter barley showed considerable variation in response to the fungicide triadimenol and that the distribution of these populations varied between varieties with the most susceptible variety also giving the highest incidence of less susceptible types. Similar variation in the sensitivity of fungi to fungicides has been documented for wheat mildew (also to triadimenol), Botrytis (to benomyl), Pyrenophora (to organomercury), Pseudocercosporella (to MBC-type fungicides) and Mycosphaerella fijiensis to triazoles to mention just a few (Jones and Clifford; Cereal Diseases, John Wiley, 1983).

Cereal species are grown world-wide and represent a major fraction of world food production. Although yield loss is caused by many pathogens, the necrotizing pathogens Septoria and Pseudocercosporella are particularly important in the major cereal growing areas of Europe and North America (Jones and Clifford; Cereal Diseases, John Wiley, 1983). In particular, the differential symptomology caused by different isolates and species of these fungi make the accurate predictive determination of potential disease loss difficult. Consequently, the availability of improved diagnostic techniques for the rapid and accurate identification of specific pathogens will be of considerable use to field pathologists.

Four Septoria species parasitize the small grain species. Septoria tritici is the causative agent of leaf blotch and is virulent on wheat but also parasitizes triticale and rye. It typically causes leaf necrosis. Septoria nodorum is the causative agent of glume blotch and is parasitic on wheat, triticale, rye and barley and although mainly restricted to glumes is also found on leaf blades and sheaths. Septoria avenae is parasitic on oats, wheat and triticale and Septoria passerinii is restricted to barley. Septoria diseases occur in all wheat growing areas at economically important levels. Different Septoria diseases frequently occur concurrently within fields and on individual plants, where the disease symptoms may be collectively referred to as the "Septoria complex". Typically, the most commonly found species are S. tritici and S. nodorum. According to Wiese (1977; Compendium of Wheat Diseases, Amer. Phytopath. Soc. pages 42-45), the Septoria complex presently destroys nearly 2% of the world's wheat annually, the yield loss being mainly the result of impaired grain filling. Fungicide treatments can save up to 20% in cases of severe Septoria infection, but it is often difficult to distinguish between the different Septoria species at the onset of infection and this makes the decision whether or not to invest in fungicide use difficult because different cultivars display differing degrees of resistance to the various Septoria species.

The eyespot disease of cereals is caused by the fungus Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides and is restricted to the basal culm of the plant. Wheat, rye, oats and other grasses are susceptible to the eyespot disease which occurs in cool, moist climates and is prevalent in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Australia. Wheat is the most susceptible cereal species, but isolates have been identified which are also virulent on other cereals. The R-strain of the fungus, for example, has also been isolated from rye and grows more slowly on wheat than the W-strain which has been isolated from wheat. Although eyespot may kill tillers or plants outright, it more usually causes lodging and/or results in a reduction in kernel size and number. Yield losses associated with eyespot are of even greater magnitude than those associated with Septoria tritici and Septoria nodorum. Typical control measures for eyespot include treatment wit h growth regulators to strengthen intemodes, and fungicide treatment. However, the differing susceptibility of cultivars to different strains of the fungus render the predictive efficacy of fungicide treatments difficult.

Sigatoka leaf spot of banana occurs in two forms each of which is caused by a different fungus. The economically important Black Sigatoka is caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis, whereas the less economically significant Yellow Sigatoka is caused by Mycosphaerella musicola (Johanson and Jeger, 1993; Mycol. Res. 97: 670-674). Black Sigatoka is the major problem in banana causing severe losses of 30% and more. Due to occurrence of fungicide resistance in Mycosphaerella fijiensis, usage of fungicide should best be limited to prevent the further occurrence of resistance. Consequently, the availability of diagnostic tools will provide an important means of identifying the appropriate circumstances in which to utilize fungicides without unnecessarily risking the development of further resistance.

Thus, there is a real need for the development of technology which will allow the identification of specific races of pathogen fungi early in the infection process. By identifying the specific race of a pathogen before disease symptoms become evident in the crop stand, the agriculturist can assess the likely effects of further development of the pathogen in the crop variety in which it has been identified and can choose an appropriate fungicide if such application is deemed necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is drawn to methods of identification of different pathotypes of plant pathogenic fungi. The invention provides DNA sequences which show variability between different fungal pathotypes. Such DNA sequences are useful in the method of the invention as they can be used to derive primers for use in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assays. These primers generate unique fragments in PCR reactions in which the DNA template is provided by specific fungal pathotypes and can thus be used to identify the presence or absence of specific pathotypes in host plant material before the onset of disease symptoms.

This invention provides the possibility of assessing potential damage in a specific crop variety-pathogen strain relationship and of utilizing judiciously the diverse armory of fungicides which is available. Furthermore, it can be used to provide detailed information on the development and spread of specific pathogen races over extended geographical areas. The invention provides a method of detection which is especially suitable for diseases with a long latent phase such as those caused by Septoria nodorum or Septoria tritici on wheat and Mycosphaerella fijiensis on banana.

Kits useful in the practice of the invention are also provided. The kits find particular use in the identification of Septoria, Pseudocercosporella, Fusarium, and Mycosphaerella pathogens.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A-1D Alignment of Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequences from Septoria tritici, Septoria nodorum, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W (two variants), Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, and Mycosphaerella musicola.

FIGS. 2A-2B Alignment of the Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequences from Septoria nodorum and Septoria avenae f.sp. triticea.

FIGS. 3A-3C Alignment of the Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequences from Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium moniliforme and Microdochium nivale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides unique DNA sequences which are useful in identifying different pathotypes of plant pathogenic fungi. Particularly the DNA sequences can be used as primers in PCR based analysis for the identification of fungal pathotypes. The DNA sequences of the invention include the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal RNA gene regions of particular fungal pathogens as well as primers which are derived from these regions which are capable of identifying the particular pathogen. These ITS DNA sequences from different pathotypes within a pathogen species or genus which vary between the different members of the species or genus can be used to identify those specific members.

Biomedical researchers have used PCR-based techniques for some time and with moderate success to detect pathogens in infected animal tissues. Only recently, however, has this technique been applied to detect plant pathogens. The presence of Gaumannomyces graminis in infected wheat has been detected using PCR of sequences specific to the pathogen amitochondrial genome (Schlesser et al., 1991; Applied and Environ. Microbiol. 57: 553-556) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (i.e. RAPD) markers were able to distinguish numerous races of Gremmeniella abietina, the causal agent of scleroderris canker in conifers.

Ribosomal genes are suitable for use as molecular probe targets because of their high copy number. Despite the high conservation between mature rRNA sequences, the non-transcribed and transcribed spacer sequences are usually poorly conserved and are thus suitable as target sequences for the detection of recent evolutionary divergence. Fungal rRNA genes are organized in units each of which encodes three mature subunits of 18S, 5.8S, and 28S respectively. These subunits are separated by two internal transcribed spacers, ITS1 and ITS2, of around 300 bp (White et al., 1990; In: PCR Protocols; Eds.: Innes et al.; pages 315-322). In addition, the transcriptional units are separated by non-transcribed spacer sequences (NTSs). The ITS and NTS sequences are particularly suitable for the detection of specific pathotypes of different fungal pathogens.

The DNA sequences of the invention are from the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal RNA gene region of different plant pathogens. The ITS DNA sequences from different pathotypes within a pathogen species or genus vary between the different members of the species or genus. Once having determined the ITS sequences of a pathogen, these sequences can be aligned with other ITS sequences. In this manner, primers can be derived from the ITS sequences. That is, primers can be designed based on regions within the ITS regions that contain the greatest differences in sequence among the fungal pathotypes. These sequences and primers based on these sequences can be used to identify specific pathogen members.

Particular DNA sequences of interest include ITS DNA sequences from Septoria, particularly, Septoria nodorum and Septoria tritici; Mycosphaerella, particularly Mycosphaerella fijiensis and Mycosphaerella musicola; Pseudocercosphorella, particularly Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, more particularly for the W-strain and the R-strain of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, Fusarium, particularly F. graminearum, F culmorum, F. moniliforme and Microdochium nivale. Such ITS DNA sequences as well as primers of interest are given in SEQ ID NO: 1-47 and SEQ ID NO.: 50-86. The sequences find use in the PCR-based identification of the pathotypes of interest.

Methods for the use of the primer sequences of the invention in PCR analysis are well known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202 as well as Schlesser et al. (1991) Applied and Environ. Microbiol. 57:553-556. See also, Nazar et al. (1991; Physiol. and Molec. Plant Pathol. 39: 1-11) which used PCR amplification to exploit differences in the ITS regions of Verticillium albo-atrum and Verticillium dahliae and therefore distinguish between the two species; and Johanson and Jeger (1993; Mycol. Res. 97: 670-674) who used similar techniques to distinguish the banana pathogens Mycosphaerella fijiensis and Mycospharella musicola.

The ITS DNA sequences of the invention can be cloned from fungal pathogens by methods known in the art. In general, the methods for the isolation of DNA from fungal isolates are known. See, Raeder & Broda (1985) Letters in Applied Microbiology 2:17-20; Lee et al. (1990) Fungal Genetics Newsletter 35:23-24; and Lee and Taylor (1990) In: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, Innes et al. (Eds.); pages 282-287.

Alternatively, the ITS regions of interest can be determined by PCR amplification. Primers to amplify the entire ITS region were designed according to White et al. (1990; In: PCR Protocols; Eds.: Innes et al. pages 315-322) and the amplified ITS sequence was subcloned into the pCRII cloning vector. The subcloned sequence included the lefthand ITS (ITS1), the righthand ITS (ITS2) as well as the centrally located 5.8S rRNA gene. This was undertaken for Septoria nodorum and Septoria tritici, numerous Pseudocercosporella isolates and Mycosphaerella fijiensis, Mycosphaerella musicola, Septoria avenae triticea, F graminearum, F. culmorum, F. moniliforme and Microdochium nivale.

The ITS sequences were determined and within each pathogen group the sequences were compared to locate divergences which might be useful to test in PCR to distinguish the different species and/or strains. The sequences of the ITS regions which were determined are shown as Sequence ID's 1 to 6, 47, and 82-86 and also in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. From the identification of divergences numerous primers were synthesized and tested in PCR-amplification. Templates used for PCR-amplification testing were firstly purified pathogen DNA, and subsequently DNA isolated from infected host plant tissue. Thus it was possible to identify pairs of primers which were diagnostic i.e. which identified one particular pathogen species or strain but not another species or strain of the same pathogen. Preferred primer combinations are able to distinguish between the different species or strains in infected host tissue i.e. host tissue which has previously been infected with a specific pathogen species or strain.

This invention provides numerous primer combinations which fulfill this criterion for different Septoria, Mycosphaerella, and Fusarium species and different strains of Pseudocercosporella. The primers of the invention are designed based on sequence differences among the fungal ITS regions. A minimum of one base pair difference between sequences can permit design of a discriminatory primer. Primers designed to a specific fungal DNA's ITS region can be used in combination with a primer made to a conserved sequence region within the ribosomal DNA's coding region to amplify species-specific PCR fragments. In general, primers should have a theoretical melting temperature between about 60 to about 70 degree C to achieve good sensitivity and should be void of significant secondary structure and 3' overlaps between primer combinations. Primers are generally at least about 5 to about 10 nucleotide bases.

The usefulness of cloned ITS sequences for the selection of primers for diagnostic purposes is largely due to their rapid evolutionary divergence. For example, W-type and R-type isolates of the pathogen Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides were found to have divergent ITS sequences from which diagnostic primers were developed. However, the rapid divergence within the ITS sequence is apparent from the observation that two different sequence variants of the W-type were identified. The sequence identity within the W-type was 99.4%, whereas that between W and R-types was 98.6% suggesting a closer evolutionary relationship between the two W variants than was found between the W and the R-types. This closer relationship is also apparent from their similar host pathogenicity of the two isolates with divergent ITS sequences.

In addition to developing primers from ITS-derived sequences for PCR diagnosis of fungal isolates, the invention also encompasses the identification of primers from RAPD primer libraries which can distinguish between Septoria nodorum and Septoria tritici when used in PCR. The primers screened are commercially available and were obtained from Operon Technologies Incorporated (Alameda, Calif.). Screening on Septoria genomic DNA identified two primers which were able to detect only S. tritici and three which were able to detect only S. nodorum.

The present invention lends itself readily to the preparation of "kits" containing the elements necessary to carry out the process. Such a kit may comprise a carrier being compartmentalized to receive in close confinement therein one or more container means, such as tubes or vials. One of said container means may contain unlabeled or detectably labeled DNA primers. The labeled DNA primers may be present in lyophilized form, or in an appropriate buffer as necessary. One or more container means may contain one or more enzymes or reagents to be utilized in PCR reactions. These enzymes may be present by themselves or in admixtures, in lyophilized form or in appropriate buffers.

Finally, the kit may contain all of the additional elements necessary to carry out the technique of the invention, such as buffers, extraction reagents, enzymes, pipettes, plates, nucleic acids, nucleoside triphosphates, filter paper, gel materials, transfer materials, autoradiography supplies, and the like.

The examples below show, without limitation, typical experimental protocols which can be used in the isolation of ITS sequences, the selection of suitable primer sequences, the testing of primers for selective and diagnostic efficacy, and the use of such primers for disease and fungal isolate detection. Such examples are provided by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Fungal isolates and genomic DNA extraction

Viable fungal isolates of S. nodorum, S. tritici, S. passerini, S. glycines, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, Pseudocercosporella aestiva, Mycosphaerella citri, Mycosphaerella graminicola, Mycosphaerella fijiensis and Mycosphaerella musicola were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium graminearum isolates were obtained from Dr. Paul Nelson from Penn State University. An isolate of Michrodochium nivale (syn. Fusarium nivale) was received from Ciba-Basel and an isolate of Fusarium moniliforme was received from Dr. Loral Castor. Fungi were grown in 150 ml potato dextrose broth inoculated with mycelial fragments from PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) cultures. Cultures were incubated on an orbital shaker at 28° C. for 7-11 days. Mycelia were pelleted by centrifugation and then ground in liquid nitrogen and total genomic DNA extracted using the protocol of Lee and Taylor (1990; In: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications; Eds.: Innes et al.; pages 282-287).

Dr. Bruce McDonald from Texas A&M University supplied genomic DNA from ten isolates of S. nodorum and nine isolates of S. tritici. Dr. Chris Caten of Birmingham University provided six isolates of Septoria nodorum purified fungal DNA. Purified genomic DNA from 12 isolates of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides was obtained from Dr. Paul Nicholson of the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK. Six of these isolates are of the W-type; the other six isolates are of the R-type. These isolates were typed based on pathogenicity and RFLP studies. Andrea Johanson of the Natural Resources Institute supplied genomic DNA of six isolates of M. musicola, six isolates of M. fijiensis and a single isolate of Mycosphaerella musae. Purified genomic DNA from Septoria avenae f. sp. triticea ATCC#26380 was supplied by Dr. Peter Ueng from the USDA at Beltsville, Md.

                  TABLE 1     ______________________________________     Source of Test Isolates     Isolate  Species        Origin    Source     ______________________________________     ATCC#24425              S. nodorum     Montana   ATCC.sup.1     XA1.1    S. nodorum     Texas     B. McDonald.sup.2     Xa5A.2   S. nodorum     Texas     B. McDonald     YA3.1    S. nodorum     Texas     B. McDonald     XD2.1    S. nodorum     Texas     B. McDonald     YB2.2    S. nodorum     Texas     B. McDonald     93HBh6a  S. nodorum     Oregon    B. McDonald     93A3a    S. nodorum     Oregon    B. McDonald     93AYa    S. nodorum     Oregon    B. McDonald     93HBh8a  S. nodorum     Oregon    B. McDonald     93C5a    S. nodorum     Oregon    B. McDonald     ATCC#26517              S. tritici     Minnesota ATCC     BS3      S. nodorum     Ireland   C. Caten.sup.3     BS6      S. nodorum     Ireland   C. Caten     BS175    S. nodorum     England   C. Caten     BS425    S. nodorum     England   C. Caten     alpha'5  S. nodorum     France    C. Caten     m300     S. nodorum     England   C. Caten     TKV2a    S. tritici     Turkey    B. McDonald     SYK2     S. tritici     Syria     B. McDonald     ISZC36.2 S. tritici     Israel    B. McDonald     CNRC4a.1 S. tritici     Canada    B. McDonald     ALA1a    S. tritici     Algeria   B. McDonald     ETK1     S. tritici     Ethiopia  B. McDonald     GEB2a.1  S. tritici     Germany   B. McDonald     UK92D2   S. tritici     United    B. McDonald                             Kingdom     DNB1a    S. tritici     Denmark   B. McDonald     ATCC#38699              S. glycines    Illinois  ATCC     ATCC#22585              S. passerini   Minnesota ATCC     ATCC#42040              P. herpotrichoides-wheat ATCC     ATCC#62012              P. aestiva     Germany   ATCC     ATCC#60972              P. herp. var. herp.-barley                             Germany   ATCC     W1       P. herpotrichoides                             United    P. Nicholson.sup.4                             Kingdom     W2       P. herpotrichoides                             United    P. Nicholson                             Kingdom     W3       P. herpotrichoides                             United    P. Nicholson                             Kingdom     W4       P. herpotrichoides                             United    P. Nicholson                             Kingdom     W5       P. herpotrichoides                             New Zealand                                       P. Nicholson     W6       P. herpotrichoides                             Italy     P. Nicholson     R1       P. herpotrichoides                             Belgium   P. Nicholson     R2       P. herpotrichoides                             New Zealand                                       P. Nicholson     R3       P. herpotrichoides                             Germany   P. Nicholson     R4       P. herpotrichoides                             Sweden    P. Nicholson     R5       P. herpotrichoides                             United    P. Nicholson                             Kingdom     R6       P. herpotrichoides                             United    P. Nicholson                             Kingdom     ATCC#22116              M. fijiensis   Philippines                                       ATCC     ATCC#22115              M. musicola    Philippines                                       ATCC     ATCC#24046              M. citri       Florida   ATCC     ATCC#62714              M. graminicola Montana   ATCC     PA92     M. fijiensis   Panama    A. Johanson.sup.5     PNG291   M. fijiensis   Papua New A. Johanson                             Guinea     GH6-3    M. fijiensis   Ghana     A. Johanson     TG120    M. fijiensis   Tonga     A. Johanson     HSB4     M. fijiensis   Honduras  A. Johanson     RT689    M. fijiensis   Rarotonga A. Johanson                             (Cook Is.)     CR548    M. musicola    Costa Rica                                       A. Johanson     CM61     M. musicola    Cameroon  A. Johanson     CU823    M. musicola    Cuba      A. Johanson     MQ103    M. musicola    Martinique                                       A. Johanson     CI31     M. musicola    Ivory Coast                                       A. Johanson     CB90     M. musicola    Colombia  A. Johanson     BD1-4    M. musae       Barbados  A. Johanson     ATCC#44234              Ceratobasidium cereale                             Netherlands                                       ATCC     ATCC#11404              Drechslera sorokiniana                             Minnesota ATCC     R-5126   F. culmorum    Minnesota P. Nelson.sup.6     R-5106   F. culmorum    Michigan  P. Nelson     R-5146   F. culmorum    Finland   P. Nelson     R-8417   F. graminearum Italy     P. Nelson     R-8422   F. graminearum Canada    P. Nelson     R-8546   F. graminearum Bulgaria  P. Nelson     4551     F. moniliforme Indiana   L. Castor.sup.7     92       M. nivale      --        Ciba Basel.sup.8     ATCC#26380               S. avenae f.sp.triticea                             Minnesota P. Ueng.sup.9     ______________________________________      .sup.1 American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Maryland USA      .sup.2 Dr. Bruce McDonald, Texas A&M University, USA      .sup.3 Dr. Chris Caten, Birmingham University, UK      .sup.4 Dr. Paul Nicholson, John Innes Centre, UK      .sup.5 Dr. Andrea Johanson, Natural Resources Institute, UK      .sup.6 Dr. Paul Nelson, Penn State University      .sup.7 Dr. Loral Castor, Ciba Seeds Research, Bloomington, Illinois      .sup.8 CibaGeigy Limited, Basel, Switzerland      .sup.9 Dr. Peter Ueng, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland

Example 2

Isolation of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions

The approximately 550 bp internal transcribed spacer region fragments were PCR amplified from 25 ng of genomic DNA isolated from S. nodorum (ATCC#24425), S. tritici (ATCC#26517), Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides isolates R1, R2, W2 and W5, M. fijiensis (ATCC#22115) and M. musicola (ATCC#22115) using 50 pmol of primers ITS1 (5'-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3'; SEQ ID NO: 38) and ITS4 (5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3'; SEQ ID NO:41). PCRs were performed as described in EXAMPLE 4 except that reactions were done in 100 μl and annealing was done at of 50° C. The ITS fragments were purified by isopropanol precipitation according to Maniatis et al. (1982; Molecular Cloning; Eds.: Maniatis et al.; pages 461-462). The DNA was resuspended in 50 μl dH₂ O and cloned using the Invitrogen Corporation's (San Diego, Calif.) TA Cloning Kit (part no. K2000-01) using the pCRII cloning vector. The DNA sequences of the ITS regions were determined by the dideoxy method using the Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.) automated sequencer model 373A with the primers ITS1 (see sequence above), ITS2 (5'-GCTGCGTTCTTCATCGATGC-3'; SEQ ID NO:39), ITS4 (see sequence above) and the M13 universal -20 (5'-GTAAAACGACGGCCAGT-3'; SEQ ID NO:48) and Reverse (5'-AACAGCTATGACCATG-3'; SEQ ID NO:49) primers. The ITS primers ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38), ITS2 (SEQ ID NO:39), ITS3 (SEQ ID NO:40), and ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41) used for cloning the ITS regions are detailed in White et al. (1990; In: PCR Protocols; Eds.: Innes et al. pages 315-322).

In addition, the internal transcribed spacer regions were PCR amplified from 25 ng of genomic DNA from S. avenae f.sp. triticea, M. nivale, F. moniliforme (#4551), F. graminearum isolates R-8417, R-8546 and R-8422 and F culmorum isolates R-5126, R-5106 and R-5146. PCR products were purified using Promega's Wizard DNA Clean-up kit (Madison, Wis.). The DNA sequences of the ITS regions were determined as described above using the ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38), ITS2 (SEQ ID NO:39), ITS3 (SEQ ID NO:40) and ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41) primers. Sequencing reactions were combined with the three isolates of F. culmorum and F. graminearum to generate a consensus sequence for F. culmorum and F. graminearum.

Example 3

DNA extraction from wheat and banana leaves

DNA was extracted from wheat leaves using a modified version of the Rapid DNA Extraction protocol from the MicroProbe Corporation's (Garden Grove, Calif.) IsoQuick Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit (cat# MXT-020-100). Typical yields were 5-10 μg of total DNA from 0.2 g of leaf tissue. Approximately 100 ng of total DNA were used in each PCR assay.

Modified Rapid DNA Extraction:

Before using kit for the first time, the entire contents of Reagent 2A (20×Dye Concentrate) were added to Reagent 2 (Extraction Matrix).

(1) Approximately 0.2 g of leaf sample were added to a 1.5 ml eppendorf tube containing 50 μl sample buffer A and 50 μl #1 lysis solution. The leaf sample was ground with a Kontes pestle.

(2) Reagent 2 (Extraction Matrix) was shaken vigorously. 350 μl of reagent 2 were added to the sample lysate.

(3) 200 μl of Reagent 3 were added (Extraction Buffer) to the sample. The sample was vortexed 20 sec.

(4) Microcentrifugation at 12,000×g for 5 min.

(5) The aqueous phase (upper layer) was transferred to a new microcentrifuge tube. This volume was typically about 200 μl.

(6) 0.1×the volume of the aqueous phase of Reagent 4 (Sodium Acetate) to the aqueous phase sample.

(7) An equal volume of isopropanol was added to the aqueous phase sample followed by vortexing.

(8) Microcentrifugation at 12,000×g for 10 min.

(9) The supernatant was discarded without disturbing the nucleic acid pellet. 0.5 ml of -20° C. 70% ethanol was added to the pellet. The tube was vortexed to mix.

(10) Microcentrifugation at 12,000×g for 5 min.

(11) The supernatant was discarded and the pellet was allowed to dry.

(12) The nucleic acid pellet was dissolved in 50 μl Reagent 5 (RNase-free water).

Example 4

Polymerase chain reaction amplification

Polymerase chain reactions were performed with the GeneAmp Kit from Perkin-Elmer/Cetus (Norwalk, Conn.; part no. N808-0009) using 50 mM KCl, 2.5 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH8.3, containing 100 μM of each TTP, DATP, dCTP, and dGTP, 50 μM primer, 2.5 units of Taq polymerase and 25 ng of genomic DNA in a final volume of 50 μl. Reactions were run for 30 cycles of 15 s at 94° C., 15 s at 50° C., 60° C. or 70° C., and 45 s at 72° C. in a Perkin-Elmer/Cetus Model 9600 thermal cycler. The products were analyzed by loading 20 μl of each PCR sample on a 1.1-1.2% agarose gel and electrophoresed.

Example 5

Synthesis and Purification of Oligonucleotides

Oligonucleotides (primers) were synthesized on an Applied Biosystems 380A DNA synthesizer using B-cyanothyl-phosphoramidite chemistry.

Example 6

Selection of species-specific primers

The ITS sequences of S. nodorum, S. tritici, P. herpotrichoides strains R and W, M. fijiensis and M. musicola were aligned (FIG. 1). The ITS sequences of S. nodorum and S. avenae. triticea were aligned (FIG. 2). An alignment was also made of the ITS sequences from F. graminearum, F. culmorum, F. moniliforme and M. nivale (FIG. 3). Sets of primers were synthesized according to EXAMPLE 5 based on analysis of the aligned sequences. Primers were designed to regions containing the greatest differences in sequence among the fungal species for FIGS. 1-2. In FIG. 3, primers were designed to regions of highest homology within the ITS for Fusarium. In addition, the published ribosomal gene-specific primers ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38), ITS2 (SEQ ID NO:39), ITS3 (SEQ ID NO:40) and ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41) (White et al., 1990; In: PCR Protocols; Eds.: Innes et al. pages 315-322) were synthesized for testing in combination with the primers specific for the ITS region.

                                      TABLE 2     __________________________________________________________________________     Primer Design for Fungal Detection     Primer Template               Primer Name                      Primer Sequence     __________________________________________________________________________     S. nodorum               JB433  5' ACACTCAGTAGTTTACTACT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:7)     S. nodorum               JB434  5' TGTGCTGCGCTTCAATA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:8)     S. nodorum               JB525  5' GCGACTTGTGCTGCGCTTCAATA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:9)     S. nodorum               JB527  5' CATTACACTCAGTAGTTTACTACT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:10)     S. tritici               JB445  5' CTGCGTCGGAGTTTACG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:11)     S. tritici               JB446  5' CGAGGCTGGAGTGGTGT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:12)     S. tritici               JB526  5' CCCAGCGAGGCTGGAGTGGTGT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:13)     P. herp.  JB536  5' CTGGGGGCTACCCTACTTGGTAG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:14)     P. herp.  JB537  5' GGGGGCTACCCTACTTGGTAG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:15)     P. herp.  JB538  5' ACTTGGTAGGGTTTAGAGTCGTCA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:16)     P. herp.  JB539  5' CTTCGGTAAGGTTTAGAGTCGTCG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:17)     P. herp.  JB540  5' GGGGGCCACCCTACTTCGGTAA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:18)     P. herp.  JB541  5' CCACTGATTTTAGAGGCCGCGAG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:19)     P. herp.  JB542  5' CCACTGATTTTAGAGGCCGCGAA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:20)     P. herp.  JB543  5' CCTGTAAAAAATTGGGGGTTA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:21)     P. herp.  JB544  5' CCTGTAAAAAATTGGGGGTTG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:22)     M. fijiensis               JB547  5' ATTACCGAGTGAGGGCTCACGC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:23)     M. fijiensis               JB548  5' GTTGCTTCGGGGGCGACCTG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:24)     M. fijiensis               JB442  5' TCGGGGGCGACCTGCCG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:25)     M. fijiensis               JB443  5' CCGGAGGCCGTCTA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:26)     M. fijiensis               JB545  5' CCACAACGCTTAGAGACGGACAG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:27)     M. fijiensis               JB546  5' CACCCGCACTCCGAAGCGAATT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:28)     M. fijiensis               JB549  5' GATCCGAGGTCAACCTTTGAATAA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:29)     M. fijiensis               JB444  5' GGTCAACCTTTGAATAA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:30)     M. musicola               JB451  5' CCTTTGTGAACCACACCT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:31)     M. musicola               JB440  5' CTGCCGGCGAACTT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:32)     M. musicola               JB449  5' ACCCTGCCGGCGAACTT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:33)     M. musicola               JB448  5' GCGACCCTGCCGGCGAAC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:34)     M. musicola               JB441  5' TAGCCGGGAGACTTGG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:35)     M. musicola               JB450  5' TCTGCGTCGGAGTTCC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:36)     M. musicola               JB452  5' CCGCGCTCCGGAGCGAAC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:37)     18S rDNA  ITS1   5' TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:38)     5.8S rDNA ITS2   5' GCTGCGTTCTTCATCGATGC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:39)     5.8S rDNA ITS3   5' GCATCGATGAAGAACGCAGC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:40)     25S rDNA  ITS4   5' TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:41)     S. nodorum               JB563  5' CTTGCCTGCCGGTTGGACAAATT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:50)     S. nodorum               JB564  5' CTCAGTAGTTTACTACTGTAAAAGG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:51)     S. nodorum               JB565  5' CTTCTGGACGCAAGTGTTTGTTAC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:52)     Fusarium spp.               JB566  5' GTTTTTAGTGGAACTTCTGAGT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:53)     Fusarium spp.               JB567  5' CGCAGGAACCCTAAACTCT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:54)     Fusarium spp.               JB568  5' GCCCGCCGCAGG 3' (SEQ ID NO:55)     Fusarium spp.               JB569  5' RTWWTTWRTGGAMYYTCTGAGT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:56)     Fusarium spp.               JB570  5' TATGTTGCCTCGGCGG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:57)     Fusarium spp.               JB571  5' TAACGATATGTAAATTACTACGCT 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:58)     Fusarium spp.               JB572  5' AAGTTGGGGTTTAACGGC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:59)     Fusarium spp.               JB573  5' AGCGAGCCCGCCAC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:60)     Fusarium spp.               JB574  5' CCATTGTGAACGTTACCTATAC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:61)     Fusarium spp.               JB575  5' CGACCAGAGCGAGATGTA 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:62)     Fusarium spp.               JB576  5' GTGAACATACCTTATGTTGCC 3'                                         (SEQ ID No:63)     Fusarium spp.               JB577  5' GTTGCCTCGGCGGATC 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:64)     Fusarium spp.               JB578  5' CCGCGACGATTACCAG 3'                                         (SEQ ID NO:65)     __________________________________________________________________________      NOTE: Fusarium supp. includes F. graminearum, F. culmorum, F. moniliforme      and Michrodochium nivale (syn. F. nivale ).

Example 7

Selection of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers

Two RAPD primer libraries (kits B and E) of twenty oligonucleotides each were purchased from Operon Technologies Incorporated (Alameda, Calif.). The primers were tested for their ability to differentiate purified genomic DNA of S. nodorum, S. tritici, M. fijiensis and M. musicola. The PCR conditions were essentially the same as described in EXAMPLE 4 except the number of PCR cycles was increased to 35, the annealing temperature was 30° C. and only 5 picamoles of each primer were used. Five RAPD primers were identified that differentiate purified genomic DNA of S. nodorum, S. tritici, M. fijiensis and M. musicola. Primers OPB-12 and OPE-6 produced a single fragment when amplified with S. tritici genomic DNA. Primers OPE-12, OPB-19 and OPE-15 produced single fragments from S. nodorum genomic DNA. Primers OPB-12 and OPE-6 did not produce any amplification products from S. nodorum M. fijiensis and M. musicola genomic DNA. Primers OPE-12, OPB-19 and OPE-15 did not amplify any fragments from genomic S. tritici, M. fijiensis or M. musicola DNA.

                                      TABLE 3     __________________________________________________________________________     RAPD Primers for Septoria Diagnosis     Source of                       Approximate size of     template DNA             Primer                 Sequence of primer  amplified fragment     __________________________________________________________________________     S. tritici             OPB-12                 5'-CCTTGACGCA-3' (SEQ ID NO: 42)                                     1.3 kb     S. tritici             OPE-6                 5'-AAGACCCCTC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 43)                                     1.0 kb     S. nodorum             OPE-12                 5'-TTATCGCCCC-3'  (SEQ ID NO: 44)                                     2.2 kb     S. nodorum             OPB-19                 5'-ACCCCCGAAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 45)                                     1.1 kb     S. nodorum             OPE-15                 5'-ACGCACAACC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 46)                                     1.3 kb     __________________________________________________________________________

Example 8

Determination of primer specificity to purified fungal genomic DNA

PCRs were performed according to EXAMPLE 4 using different primer combinations in an attempt to amplify a single species-specific fragment. Species-specific PCR amplification products were produced from primers designed from the ITS region between the 18S and 25S ribosomal DNA subunits of each fungal strain of interest.

                                      TABLE 4     __________________________________________________________________________     ITS-derived diagnostic PCR primers                                                   Approximate                                                   size of     Source of                                     amplified     template DNA                5'Primer        3'Primer           fragment     __________________________________________________________________________     Septoria   JB433 (SEQ ID NO:7)                                JB434 (SEQ ID NO:8)                                                   448bp     nodorum    JB433 (SEQ ID NO:7)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   553bp                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB434 (SEQ ID NO:8)                                                   478bp                ITS3 (SEQ ID NO:40)(JB414)                                JB434 (SEQ ID NO:8)                                                   232bp*                JB527 (SEQ ID NO:10)                                JB525 (SEQ ID NO:9)                                                   458bp                JB564 (SEQ ID NO:51)                                JB565 (SEQ ID NO:52)                                                   480bp                JB563 (SEQ ID NO:50)                                JB565 (SEQ ID NO:52)                                                   368bp     Septoria tritici                JB445 (SEQ ID NO:11)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   407bp                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB446 (SEQ ID NO:12)                                                   345bp                ITS3 (SEQ ID NO:40)(JB414)                                JB446 (SEQ ID NO:12)                                                   143bp*                JB445 (SEQ ID NO:11)                                JB446 (SEQ ID NO:12)                                                   204bp     M. fijiensis                JB443 (SEQ ID NO:26)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   418bp                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB444 (SEQ ID NO:30)                                                   482bp                JB443 (SEQ ID NO:26)                                JB444 (SEQ ID NO:30)                                                   366bp*                ITS3 (SEQ ID NO:40)(JB414)                                JB444 (SEQ ID NO:30)                                                   281bp                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB549 (SEQ ID NO:29)                                                   489bp     M. musicola                JB449 (SEQ ID NO:33)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   430bp                JB448 (SEQ ID NO:34)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   449bp*                JB448 (SEQ ID NO:34)                                ITS2 (SEQ ID NO:39)(JB411)                                                   138bp*                JB450 (SEQ ID NO:36)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   390bp*     P. herpotrichoides                JB536 (SEQ ID NO:14)                                JB541 (SEQ ID NO:19)                                                   415bp.sup.+                JB536 (SEQ ID NO:14)                                JB543 (SEQ ID NO:21)                                                   502bp.sup.+                JB537 (SEQ ID NO:15)                                JB541 (SEQ ID NO:19)                                                   413bp.sup.+                JB537 (SEQ ID NO:15)                                JB543 (SEQ ID NO:21)                                                   500bp.sup.+                JB538 (SEQ ID NO:16)                                JB541 (SEQ ID NO:19)                                                   401bp.sup.+                JB538 (SEQ ID NO:16)                                JB543 (SEQ ID NO:21)                                                   488bp.sup.+                JB536 (SEQ ID NO:14)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   560bp.sup.+                JB537 (SEQ ID NO:15)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   558bp.sup.+                JB538 (SEQ ID NO:16)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   546bp.sup.+                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB541 (SEQ ID NO:19)                                                   482bp.sup.+                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB543 (SEQ ID NO:21)                                                   569bp.sup.+                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB542 (SEQ ID NO:20)                                                   482bp.sup.+                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB544 (SEQ ID NO:22)                                                   569bp.sup.++                JB540 (SEQ ID NO:18)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   558bp.sup.++                JB539 (SEQ ID NO:17)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   545bp.sup.++                JB540 (SEQ ID NO:18)                                JB542 (SEQ ID NO:20)                                                   413bp.sup.++                JB540 (SEQ ID NO:18)                                JB544 (SEQ ID NO:22)                                                   500bp.sup.++                JB539 (SEQ ID NO:17)                                JB542 (SEQ ID NO:20)                                                   400bp.sup.++                JB539 (SEQ ID NO:17)                                JB544 (SEQ ID NO:22)                                                   487bp.sup.++     Fusarium supp.                JB566 (SEQ ID NO:53)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   430bp.sup.1                JB566 (SEQ ID NO:53)                                JB572 (SEQ ID NO:59)                                                   346bp.sup.1                JB569 (SEQ ID NO:56)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   430bp.sup.1                JB569 (SEQ ID NO:56)                                JB572 (SEQ ID NO:59)                                                   346bp.sup.1                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB572 (SEQ ID NO:59)                                                   485bp.sup.1                JB566 (SEQ ID NO:53)                                JB571 (SEQ ID NO:58)                                                   308bp.sup.2                JB569 (SEQ ID NO:56)                                JB571 (SEQ ID NO:58)                                                   308bp.sup.2                JB570 (SEQ ID NO:57)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   501bp.sup.2                JB570 (SEQ ID NO:57)                                JB571 (SEQ ID NO:58)                                                   379bp.sup.2                JB570 (SEQ ID NO:57)                                JB578 (SEQ ID NO:65)                                                   395bp.sup.2                JB567 (SEQ ID NO:54)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   450bp.sup.2                JB567 (SEQ ID NO:54)                                JB571 (SEQ ID NO:58)                                                   328bp.sup.2                JB567 (SEQ ID NO:54)                                JB572 (SEQ ID NO:59)                                                   366bp.sup.2                JB567 (SEQ ID NO:54)                                JB578 (SEQ ID NO:65)                                                   344bp.sup.2                JB568 (SEQ ID NO:55)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   459bp.sup.2                JB568 (SEQ ID NO:55)                                JB571 (SEQ ID NO:58)                                                   337bp.sup.2                JB568 (SEQ ID NO:55)                                JB572 (SEQ ID NO:59)                                                   375bp.sup.2                JB576 (SEQ ID NO:63)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   510bp.sup.2                JB576 (SEQ ID NO:63)                                JB578 (SEQ ID NO:65)                                                   404bp.sup.2                JB577 (SEQ ID NO:64)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   495bp.sup.2                JB577 (SEQ ID NO:64)                                JB571 (SEQ ID NO:58)                                                   373bp.sup.2                JB577 (SEQ ID NO:64)                                JB578 (SEQ ID NO:65)                                                   389bp.sup.2                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB571 (SEQ ID NO:58)                                                   447bp.sup.2                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB578 (SEQ ID NO:65)                                                   463bp.sup.2                ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)                                JB575 (SEQ ID NO:62)                                                   479bp.sup.2     M. nivale  JB569 (SEQ ID NO:56)                                JB575 (SEQ ID NO:62)                                                   340bp                JB567 (SEQ ID NO:54)                                JB575 (SEQ ID NO:62)                                                   360bp                JB574 (SEQ ID NO:61)                                ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415)                                                   520bp                JB574 (SEQ ID NO:61)                                JB572 (SEQ ID NO:59)                                                   436bp     __________________________________________________________________________      *Primer combination amplified some fragments by false priming but none      were the size of the desired fragment.      .sup.+ Primers amplified the correct size fragment from both Rtype and      Wtype of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides.      .sup.++ Primer combination amplified the correct size fragment from the      Rtype of P. herpotrichoides only.      .sup.1 Primer combination amplified the correct size fragment from F.      graminearum, F. culmorum, F. moniliforme and M. nivale.      .sup.2 Primer combination amplified the correct size fragment from F.      graminearum, F. culmorum and F. moniliforme.

Example 9

Determination of primer specificity to plant tissue infected with fungi

Total genomic DNA was isolated from healthy wheat leaves, wheat leaves infected with S. nodorum, wheat leaves infected with S. tritici and wheat leaves infected with both S. nodorum and S. tritici using the protocol described in EXAMPLE 3. PCRs were performed as described in EXAMPLE 4 testing the primer combinations listed in EXAMPLE 8 against DNA from the wheat leaves.

The S. tritici-specific primer JB446 (SEQ ID NO: 12) and ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410) amplified a 345 bp fragment from purified S. tritici DNA, from S. tritici-infected wheat leaf tissue and from a wheat leaf sample infected with both S. tritici and S. nodorum. The primer set did not amplify a diagnostic fragment from healthy wheat leaf tissue nor from S. nodorum-infected wheat tissue. Similarly, the S. tritici-specific primers JB445 (SEQ ID NO:11) and ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415) amplified a 407 bp fragment from the same tissues as the primer combination JB446 (SEQ ID NO:12) and ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410) and was also diagnostic.

Similarly diagnostic results were obtained with the S. nodorum-specific primers JB433 (SEQ ID NO:7) and JB434 (SEQ ID NO:8). The primers amplified a 448 bp fragment from S. nodorum-infected wheat tissue, from a wheat leaf sample infested with both S. nodorum and S. tritici, as well as from purified genomic DNA of S. nodorum. The primer combination JB433 (SEQ ID NO:7) and JB434 (SEQ ID NO:8) did not amplify any fragments from healthy wheat tissue, from S. tritici-infected wheat tissue or from purified genomic DNA of S. tritici. The S. nodorum-specific primers JB527 (SEQ ID NO:10) and JB525 (SEQ ID NO:9) amplified a 458 bp fragment from the same genomic DNAs and wheat tissues as the JB433 (SEQ ID NO:7) and JB434 (SEQ ID NO:8) combination.

The P. herpotrichoides primer combinations listed in EXAMPLE 8 were PCR tested against the extracts from wheat stems as pbtained in Example 12. PCRs were performed as described in EXAMPLE 4 with the following changes: 35 cycles were run of 94° C. for 15 sec and 70° C. for 45 sec, 1.5-2.5 mM MgCl₂ and 200 μM of each dNTP was used. 1 μl of wheat extract was used in each PCR.

Primer combination JB537 (SEQ ID NO: 105) and JB541 (SEQ ID NO: 1 9) amplified a 413 bp fragment from wheat extract infected with the W-type pathotype of P. herpotrichoides. No amplification products were produced from amplification with healthy wheat extract nor from wheat extract infected with the R-type pathotype of P. herpotrichoides.

The primer combination JB539 (SEQ ID NO: 17) and JB544 (SEQ ID NO:22) amplified a 487 bp fragment and primer combination JB540 (SEQ ID NO: 18) and JB542 (SEQ ID NO:20) amplified a 413 bp fragment from R-type infected wheat but not from healthy wheat nor from W-type infected wheat.

Total genomic DNA was also isolated from healthy banana leaves and from banana leaves infected with M. fijiensis using the protocol described in EXAMPLE 3. PCRs were performed as described in EXAMPLE 4 testing the M. fijiensis primer combinations listed in EXAMPLE 8 against DNA from the banana leaves.

The M. fijiensis-specific primer JB549 (SEQ ID NO:29) and ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410) amplified a 489 bp fragment from purified M fijiensis DNA and from M. fijiensis-infected banana leaf tissue. The primer set did not amplify a diagnostic fragment from healthy banana leaf tissue. The M. fijiensis-specific primer combinations JB443 (SEQ ID NO:26)/ITS4 (SEQ ID NO:41)(JB415) and ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410)/JB444 (SEQ ID NO:30) amplified a 418 bp fragment and a 482 bp fragment, respectively, from the same genomic DNA and banana leaf tissue as the JB549 (SEQ ID NO:29) and ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410) primer combination.

Example 10

Determination of cross-reactivity of species-specific primers with other species and isolates

Purified fungal genomic DNAs were obtained as described in EXAMPLE 1 and PCR assayed as described in EXAMPLE 4 using the species-specific primers. Other fungal DNA species and isolates were tested for the species-specific primers ability to cross-react with them.

The S. tritici-specific primer JB446 (SEQ ID NO:12) and ITS1 (SEQ ID NO:38)(JB410) amplified a 345 bp fragment from all of the S. tritici isolates listed in EXAMPLE 1. There was no cross-reactivity with purified genomic DNA of S. nodorum, S. glycines or S. passerini. None of these other fungal species produced an amplification product with the S. tritici-specific primers.

A 448 bp fragment was amplified from all of the S. nodorum isolates listed in EXAMPLE 1 using the S. nodorum-specific primers JB433 (SEQ ID NO:7) and JB434 (SEQ ID NO:8). Similarly the S. nodorum-specific primers JB527 (SEQ ID NO: 10) and JB525 (SEQ ID NO:9) amplified a 458 bp fragment from all the S. nosorum isolates listed in EXAMPLE 1. S. tritici, S. glycines and S. passerini did not produce any amplification products when assayed with the either of the S. nodorum-specific primer sets JB433 (SEQ ID NO:7) and JB434 (SEQ ID NO:8) or JB527 (SEQ ID NO:10) and JB525 (SEQ ID NO:9).

PCRs were run using the conditions described in EXAMPLE 9, the P. herpotrichoides-specific primer combinations listed in EXAMPLE 8 against the other fungal DNA species and isolates listed in EXAMPLE 1.

The primer combination JB537 (SEQ ID NO: 15) and JB541 (SEQ ID NO: 19) produced a 413 bp fragment from the W-type P. herpotrichoides isolates only when tested against the P. herpotrichoides isolates and the following cereal pathogens: P. aestiva, C. cereale, P. sorokiniana, S. tritici and S. nodorum. The primer combiantion JB539 (SEQ ID NO: 17) and JB544 (SEQ ID NO:22) amplified a 487 bp fragment from the R-type P. herpotrichoides isolate only when tested against the same DNAs. The primer combination JB540 (SEQ ID NO: 18) and JB542 (SEQ ID NO:20) produced a 413 bp fragment from the R-type P. herpotrichoides isolate only when tested against the same DNAs.

Example 11

Sources of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides-infected wheat Eyespot-infected wheat stems were received from the stage 1c fungicide screening program of Ciba Basle. Eight day old wheat plants were infected with P. herpotrichoides by spraying a conidial suspension (5×10⁵ conidia/ml) in 0.2% Tween 20 on the base of the wheat stems. After inoculation, the plants were covered with plastic and incubated for one day at 20° C. and 95-100% relative humidity. The plants were transferred to a growth chamber where they were incubated for four weeks at 12° C. and 60% relative humidity. After this incubation, the plants were moved to a greenhouse and incubated at 18° C. and 60% relative humidity. Wheat plants infected with W-type P. herpotrichoides strain 311 were sampled at 8-9 weeks post-infection, while those infected with the R-type strain 308 pathogen were harvested at 9-10 weeks post-infection

Example 12

DNA extraction from wheat stems for P. herpotrichoides assay

DNA was extracted from wheat stems using the protocol described by Klimyuk et al. (The Plant Journal 3(3):493-494) with some modifications. A 2 cm wheat stem cut 0.5 cm above the basal culm was placed in 160 μl of 0.25 M NaOH and ground with a Kontes pestle until completely macerated. The sample was boiled for 30 s. 160 μl of 0.25 M HCl and 80 μl of 0.5 M Tris-Cl,pH8.0/0.25% v/v Nonidet P-40 were added to the sample. The sample was boiled for an additional 2 mins., then placed in an ice water bath. 1 μl of extract was used in the PCR assay.

Example 13

Incorporation of diagnostic assays into a quantitative colormetric assay format

The colormetric assay was performed according to Nikiforov et al. (PCR Methods and Applications 3:285-291) with the following changes:

1) 30 μl of the R-type PCR product and 3 M NaCl/20 mM EDTA mixture were added to the capture primer well. 50 μl of the W-type PCR product and 3 M NaCl/20 mM EDTA mixture were used in the hybridization reaction.

2) The exonuclease treatment and hybridization reaction were incubated at 37° C.

3) A 1:1000 dilution of anti-biotin horseradish peroxidase (HRP) monoclonal antibody was used.

4) After a 2 min. incubation with the O-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (OPD) substrate, 50 μl of 3 N HCl were added to each assay well. 96-well plates were read at 492 nm and referenced at 570 nm using a conventional ELISA plate reader.

The primers listed in Table 5 were synthesized as described in EXAMPLE 5 for testing as capture primers for the colormetric assay.

                                      TABLE 5     __________________________________________________________________________     Capture Primer Design for Colormetric Assay     Primer     Name         Primer Template                    Primer Sequence     __________________________________________________________________________     ITS2         5.8S rDNA 5'GCTGCGTTCTTCATCGATGC3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:39)     JB541         W-type P. herp.                   5'CCACTGATTTTAGAGGCCGCGAG3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:19)     JB542         R-type P. herp.                   5'CCACTGATTTTAGAGGCCGCGAA3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:20)     JB538'         W-type P. herp.                   5'TGACGACTCTAAACCCTACCA3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:66)     JB539'         R-type P. herp.                   5'CGACGACTCTAAACCTTACCG3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:67)     W130         W-type P. herp.                   5'ATTCAAGGGTGGAGGTCTGA3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:68)     R130         R-type P. herp.                   5'ATTCAAGGGTGGAGGTCTGG3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:69)     JB538'         15 W-type P. herp.                   5'CTCTAAACCCTACCA3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:70)     JB539'         15 R-type P. herp.                   5'CTCTAAACCCTACCG3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:71)     JB553         R & W types                   5'GTGGTCCTCTGGCAG3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:72)     JB554         R & W types                   5'CTCAACAGCCGAAGC3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:73)     JB555         W-type P. herp.                   5'GGGTGGAGGTCTGA3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:74)     JB556         R-type P. herp.                   5'GGTGGAGGTCTGG3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:75)     JB561         R-type P. herp.                   5'TGGAGGTCTGGACCA3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:76)     JB562         W-type P. herp.                   5'TGGAGGTCTGAACCA3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:77)     JB559         W-type P. herp.                   5'AGGGTGGAGGTCTGA3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:78)     JB560         R-type P. herp.                   5'AGGGTGGAGGTCTGG3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:79)     JB557         W-type P. herp.                   5'TTCTCCGAGAGGCCT3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:80)     JB558         R-type P. herp.                   5'TTCTCCGAGAGGCCC3'                                    (SEQ ID NO:81)     __________________________________________________________________________

The S. nodorum diagnostic primers JB527 (SEQ ID NO: 10) and JB525 (SEQ ID NO:9) were integrated into the quantitative colormetric assay format. The primer JB527 (SEQ ID NO: 10) was synthesized by Midland Certified Reagent Complany (Midland, Tex.) to contain a biotin label and the 5' end to contain four intemucleotidic phosphorothioate bonds. PCR amplification as described in EXAMPLE 4 using the modified JB527 (SEQ ID NO: 10) and JB525 (SEQ ID NO:9) primers from healthy, low, medium, and highly S. nodorum-infected wheat produced no, low, medium and high A492 values, respectively, when assayed colormetrically using the ITS2 (SEQ ID NO:39) primer as the PCR product capture primer.

The P. herpotrichoides R-type specific 5' primers, JB539 (SEQ ID NO: 17) and JB540 (SEQ ID NO: 18), and the P. herpotrichoides W-type specific 5' primer, JB537 (SEQ ID NO: 15), were also modified to contain a biotin label and four internucleotidic phosphorothioate bonds. A colormetric version of the P. herpotrichoides R-type PCR assay was developed using the modified JB540 (SEQ ID NO: 18) primer, JB542 (SEQ ID NO:20) primer and the capture primer JB539'15. The products produced from amplification from R-type infected wheat and from R-type genomic DNA using the modified JB540 (SEQ ID NO: 18) primer and JB542 (SEQ ID NO:20) primer produced positive colormetric values when assayed colormetrically. Positive colormetric values were also obtained by colormetric analysis of the PCR products from amplification using the modified JB537 (SEQ ID NO: 15) primer and W-type specific primer JB541 (SEQ ID NO:19)with W-type infected wheat and W-type genomic DNA when JB538'15 was used as the capture primer. Furthermore, the intensity of the colormetric signal corresponded to the fragment intensity of the PCR product as visualized on an agarose gel.

Previously, the different Septoria species were identifiable by examination under the microscope, and the identification of the different Pseudocercosporella strains has been possible only by pathological tests. Similarly, the unambiguous identification of Mycosphaerella musicola and Mycosphaerella fijiensis has been difficult, and even the isolation of mature perithecia does not always allow accurate identification (Pons, 1990; In: Sigatoka Leaf Spot Diseases of Banana, Eds. R A Fullerton and R H Stover, International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain, France). Currently immunodiagnostic kits utilizing ELISA technology are routinely used to identify Septoria tritici, Septoria nodorum, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides and other pathogen, but this technology lacks the accuracy, detection limit and ability to distinguish different isolates of the instant invention. In consequence, the development of a DNA test for the rapid identification of different strains of these fungi offers real advantages not only to fungal taxonomists, but also for disease management and selective fungicide use in the field.

While the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that numerous variations, modifications, and further embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the scope of the present invention.

Deposits

The following deposits were made on Mar. 28, 1994, at Agricultural Research Service, Patent Culture Collection (NRRL), Northern Regional Research Center, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Ill. 61604, U.S.A.:

1. HB101 DH5d (pCRW2-1; SEQ ID NO: 3) Accession No. NRRL B-21231

2. HB11 DH5d (pCRW5-1; SEQ ID. NO: 47) Accession No. NRRL B-21232

3. E. coli DH5d (PCRSTRIT1; SEQ ID NO: 1) Accession No. NRRL B-21233

4. E. coli DH5d (pCRR1-21; SEQ ID NO: 4) Accession No. NRRL B-21234

5. E. coli DH5d (pCRSNOD31; SEQ ID NO: 2) Accession No. NRRL B-21235

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING     - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:     -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 86     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 548 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..548     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #Transcribed Spacer of Septoria tritici"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:     - TCCGTAGGTG AACCTGCGGA GGGATCATTA CCGAGCGAGG GCCTCCGGGT CC - #GACCTCCA       60     - ACCCTTTGTG AACACATCCC GTTGCTTCGG GGGCGACCCT GCCGGGCGCC CC - #CGGAGGAC      120     - CACCAAAAAA CACTGCATCT CTGCGTCGGA GTTTACGAGT AAATCGAAAC AA - #AACTTTCA      180     - ACAACGGATC TCTTGGTTCT GGCATCGATG AAGAACGCAG CGAAATGCGA TA - #AGTAATGT      240     - GAATTGCAGA ATTCAGTGAA TCATCGAATC TTTGAACGCA CATTGCGCCC CC - #TGGTATTC      300     - CGGGGGGCAT GCCCGTTCGA GCGTCATTAC ACCACTCCAG CCTCGCTGGG TA - #TTGGGCGT      360     - CTTTTCGCGG GGGATCACTC CCCCGCGCGC CTCAAAGTCT CCGGCTGAGC GG - #TCTCGTCT      420     - CCCAGCGTTG TGGCATCACG TCTCGCCGCG GAGTTCACGA GCCCTCACGG CC - #GTTAAATC      480     - ACACCTCAGG TTGACCTCGG ATCGGGTAGG GATACCCGCT GAACTTAAGC AT - #ATCAATAA      540     #         548     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 583 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:     #nodorum  (A) ORGANISM: Septoria     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..583     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #Transcribed Spacer of Septoria nodorum"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:     - TCCGTAGGTG AACCTGCGGA AGGATCATTA CACTCAGTAG TTTACTACTG TA - #AAAGGGGC       60     - TGTTAGTCTG TATAGCGCAA GCTGATGAGC AGCTGGCCTC TTTTATCCAC CC - #TTGTCTTT      120     - TGCGTACCCA CGTTTCCTCG GCAGGCTTGC CTGCCGGTTG GACAAATTTA TA - #ACCTTTTT      180     - AATTTTCAAT CAGCGTCTGA AAAACTTAAT AATTACAACT TTCAACAACG GA - #TCTCTTGG      240     - TTCTGGCATC GATGAAGAAC GCAGCGAAAT GCGATAAGTA GTGTGAATTG CA - #GAATTCAG      300     - TGAATCATCG AATCTTTGAA CGCACATTGC GCCCCTTGGT ATTCCATGGG GC - #ATGCCTGT      360     - TCGAGCGTCA TTTGTACCCT CAAGCTCTGC TTGGTGTTGG GTGTTTGTCC TC - #TCCCTAGT      420     - GTTTGGACTC GCCTTAAAAT AATTGGCAGC CAGTGTTTTG GTATTGAAGC GC - #AGCACAAG      480     - TCGCGATTCG TAACAAACAC TTGCGTCCAC AAGCCTTTTT AACTTTTGAC CT - #CGGATCAG      540     #583               AACT TAAGCATATC AATAAGCGGA GGA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 626 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: Pseudocercos - #porella herpotrichoides               (B) STRAIN: Strain R     #Variant W2-1 INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..626     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #Transcribed Spacer of Pseudocercosporella                    herpotrichoi - #des strain W (variant W2-1)"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:     - TCCGTAGGTG AACCTGCGGA AGGATCATTA ATAGAGCAAT GAACAGACAG CG - #CCCCGGGA       60     - GAAATCCTGG GGGCTACCCT ACTTGGTAGG GTTTAGAGTC GTCAGGCCGC TC - #GGAGAAGC      120     - CTGGTTCAGA CCTCCACCCT TGAATAAATT ACCTTTGTTG CTTTGGCAGG GC - #GCCTCGCG      180     - CCAGCGGCTT CGGCTGTTGA GTACCTGCCA GAGGACCACA ACTCTTGTTT TT - #AGTGATGT      240     - CTGAGTACTA TATAATAGTT AAAACTTTCA ACAACGGATC TCTTGGTTCT GG - #CATCGATG      300     - AAGAACGCAG CGAAATGCGA TAAGTAATGT GAATTGCAGA ATTCAGTGAA TC - #ATCGAATC      360     - TTTGAACGCA CATTGCGCCC TCTGGTATTC CGGGGGGCAT GCCTGTTCGA GC - #GTCATTAT      420     - AACCACTCAA GCTCTCGCTT GGTATTGGGG TTCGCGTCCT CGCGGCCTCT AA - #AATCAGTG      480     - GCGGTGCCTG TCGGCTCTAC GCGTAGTAAT ACTCCTCGCG ATTGAGTCCG GT - #AGGTTTAC      540     - TTGCCAGTAA CCCCCAATTT TTTACAGGTT GACCTCGGAT CAGGTAGGGA TA - #CCCGCTGA      600     #             626  AAGC GGAGGA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 627 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: Pseudocercos - #porella herpotrichoides               (B) STRAIN: Strain R     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..627     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #Transcribed Spacer of Pseudocercosporella                    herpotrichoi - #des Strain R"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:     - TCCGTAGGTG AACCTGCGGA AGGATCATTA ATAGAGCAAT GGATAGACAG CG - #CCCCGGGA       60     - GAAATCCTGG GGGCCACCCT ACTTCGGTAA GGTTTAGAGT CGTCGGGCCT CT - #CGGAGAAG      120     - CCTGGTCCAG ACCTCCACCC TTGAATAAAT TACCTTTGTT GCTTTGGCAG GG - #CGCCTCGC      180     - GCCAGCGGCT TCGGCTGTTG AGTACCTGCC AGAGGACCAC AACTCTTGTT TT - #TAGTGATG      240     - TCTGAGTACT ATATAATAGT TAAAACTTTC AACAACGGAT CTCTTGGTTC TG - #GCATCGAT      300     - GAAGAACGCA GCGAAATGCG ATAAGTAATG TGAATTGCAG AATTCAGTGA AT - #CATCGAAT      360     - CTTTGAACGC ACATTGCGCC CTCTGGTATT CCGGGGGGCA TGCCTGTTCG AG - #CGTCATTA      420     - TAACCACTCA AGCTCTCGCT TGGTATTGGG GTTCGCGTCT TCGCGGCCTC TA - #AAATCAGT      480     - GGCGGTGCCT GTCGGCTCTA CGCGTAGTAA TACTCCTCGC GATTGAGTCC GG - #TAGGTTTA      540     - CTTGCCAGCA ACCCCCAATT TTTTACAGGT TGACCTCGGA TCAGGTAGGG AT - #ACCCGCTG      600     #            627   TAAG CGGAGGA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 534 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: Mycosphaerel - #la fijiensis     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..534     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #Transcribed Spacer of Mycosphaerella                    fijiensis"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:     - TCCGTAGGTG AACCTGCGGA GGGATCATTA CCGAGTGAGG GCTCACGCCC GA - #CCTCCAAC       60     - CCTTTGTGAA CCACAACTTG TTGCTTCGGG GGCGACCTGC CGTCGGCGGG CG - #CCCCCGGA      120     - GGCCGTCTAA ACACTGCATC TTTGCGTCGG AGTTTAAAAC AAATCGAACA AA - #ACTTTCAA      180     - CAACGGATCT CTTGGTTCTG GCATCGATGA AGAACGCAGC GAAATGCGAT AA - #GTAATGTG      240     - AATTGCAGAA TTCAGTGAAT CATCGAATCT TTGAACGCAC ATTGCGCCCT TT - #GGTATTCC      300     - GAAGGGCATG CCTGTTCGAG CGTCATTTCA CCACTCAAGC CTGGCTTGGT AT - #TGGGCGTC      360     - GCGGTTCTTC GCGCGCCTTA AAGTCTCCGG CTGAGCTGTC CGTCTCTAAG CG - #TTGTGGAT      420     - CTTTCAATTC GCTTCGGAGT GCGGGTGGCC GCGGCCGTTA AATCTTTATT CA - #AAGGTTGA      480     - CCTCGGATCA GGTAGGGATA CCCGCTGAAC TTAAGCATAT CAATAAGCGG AG - #GA      534     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 540 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: Mycosphaerel - #la musicola     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..540     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #Transcribed Spacer of Mycosphaerella                    musicola"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:     - TCCGTAGGTG AACCTGCGGG GGGATCATTA CCGAGTGAGG GCTCACCCCC GA - #CCTCCAAC       60     - CCTTTGTGAA CCACACCTGT TGCTTCGGGG GCGACCCTGC CGGCGAACTT GT - #CGCCGGGC      120     - GCCCCCGGAG GTCTCCTTAA CACTGCATCT CTGCGTCGGA GTTCCAAACA AA - #TCGGACAA      180     - AACTTTCAAC AACGGATCTC TTGGTTCTGG CATCGATGAA GAACGCAGCG AA - #ATGCGATA      240     - AGTAATGTGA ATTGCAGAAT TCAGTGAATC ATCGAATCTT TGAACGCACA TT - #GCGCCCTT      300     - TGGCATTCCG AAGGGCATGC CTGTTCGAGC GTCATTTCAC CACTCAAGCC TA - #GCTTGGTA      360     - TTGGGCGCCG CGGTGCTCCG CGCGCCCCAA AGTCTCCCGG CTAAGCCGTC CG - #TCTCTAAG      420     - CGTTGTGGAT TTTTCAGTTC GCTCCGGAGC GCGGGTGGCC GCGGCCGTTA AA - #TCTTCAAA      480     - GGTTGACCTC GGATCAGGTA GGGATACCCG CTGAACTTAA GCATATCAAT AA - #GCGGAGGA      540     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB433     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:     # 20               TACT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 17 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB434     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:     #   17             A     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB525     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:     #                23TTCA ATA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB527     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:     #                24TTAC TACT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 17 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB445     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:     #   17             G     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 17 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB446     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:     #   17             T     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB526     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:     #                 22GGT GT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB536     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:     #                23TTGG TAG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB537     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:     #21                GGTA G     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB538     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:     #                24AGTC GTCA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB539     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:     #                24AGTC GTCG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB540     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:     #                 22GGT AA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB541     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:     #                23CCGC GAG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB542     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:     #                23CCGC GAA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB543     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:     #21                GGTT A     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB544     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:     #21                GGTT G     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB547     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:     #                 22CAC GC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB548     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:     # 20               CCTG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 17 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB442     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25:     #   17             G     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 14 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB443     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26:     #     14     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB545     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:27:     #                23CGGA CAG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB546     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:28:     #                 22GAA TT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB549     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:29:     #                24TTGA ATAA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 17 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB444     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:30:     #   17             A     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:31:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 18 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB451     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:31:     #  18              CT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:32:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 14 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB440     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:32:     #     14     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:33:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 17 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB449     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:33:     #   17             T     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:34:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 18 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB448     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:34:     #  18              AC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:35:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 17 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB441     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:35:     #   17             G     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:36:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 16 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB450     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:36:     #    16     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:37:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 18 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer JB452     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:37:     #  18              AC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:38:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 19 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer ITS1     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:38:     # 19               CGG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:39:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer ITS2     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:39:     # 20               ATGC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:40:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer ITS3     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:40:     # 20               CAGC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:41:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer ITS4     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:41:     # 20               ATGC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:42:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 10 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer OPB-12     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:42:     #        10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:43:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 10 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer OPE-6     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:43:     #        10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:44:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 10 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer OPE-12     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:44:     #        10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:45:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 10 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer OPE-19     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:45:     #        10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:46:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 10 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: Oligonucl - #eotide primer OPE-15     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:46:     #        10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:47:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 627 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: Pseudocercos - #porella herpotrichoides               (B) STRAIN: Strain W     #Variant W5-1 INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..627     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #Transcribed Spacer of Pseudocercosporella                    herpitrichoi - #des strain W (variant W5-1)"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:47:     - TCCGTAGGTG AACCTGCGGA AGGATCATTA ATAGAGCAAT GAACAGACAG CG - #CCCTGGGA       60     - GAAATCCTGG GGGCTACCCT ACTTCGGTAG GGTTTAGAGT CGTCAGGCCT CT - #CGGAGAAG      120     - CCTGGTTCAG ACCTCCACCC TTGAATAAAT TACCTTTGTT GCTTTGGCAG GG - #CGCCTCGC      180     - GCCAGCGGCT TCGGCTGTTG AGTACCTGCC AGAGGACCAC AACTCTTGTT TT - #TAGTGATG      240     - TCTGAGTACT ATATAATAGT TAAAACTTTC AACAACGGAT CTCTTGGTTC TG - #GCATCGAT      300     - GAAGAACGCA GCGAAATGCG ATAAGTAATG TGAATTGCAG AATTCAGTGA AT - #CATCGAAT      360     - CTTTGAACGC ACATTGCGCC CTCTGGTATT CCGGGGGGCA TGCCTGTTCG AG - #CGTCATTA      420     - TAACCACTCA AGCTCTCGCT TGGTATTGGG GTTCGCGTCC TCGCGGCCTC TA - #AAATCAGT      480     - GGCGGTGCCT CTCGGCTCTA CGCGTAGTAA TACTCCTCGC GATTGAGTCC GG - #TAGGTTTA      540     - CTTGCCAGTA ACCCCCAATT TTTTACAGGT TGACCTCGGA TCAGGTAGGG AT - #ACCCGCTG      600     #            627   TAAG CGGAGGA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:48:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 17 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid     20 oligonucleotide primer: M13 un - #iversal     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:48:     #   17             T     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:49:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 16 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Other nucleic acid               (A) DESCRIPTION: M13 un - #iversal reverse oligonucleotide     primer     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:49:     #    16     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:50:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer /desc                    JB563"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:50:     #                23ACAA ATT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:51:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 25 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide JB564" /desc     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:51:     #               25 TGTA AAAGG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:52:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide JB565" /desc     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:52:     #                24TTTG TTAC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:53:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide JB566" /desc     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:53:     #                 22TGA GT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:54:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 19 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide JB567" /desc     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:54:     # 19               TCT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:55:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 12 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB568"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:55:     #       12     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:56:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB569"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:56:     #                 22TGA GT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:57:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 16 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB570"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:57:     #    16     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:58:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 24 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB571"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:58:     #                24ACTA CGCT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:59:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 18 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB572"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:59:     #  18              GC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:60:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 14 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB573"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:60:     #     14     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:61:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB574"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:61:     #                 22TAT AC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:62:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 18 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB575"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:62:     #  18              TA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:63:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB576"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:63:     #21                TTGC C     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:64:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 16 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB577"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:64:     #    16     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:65:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 16 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB578"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:65:     #    16     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:66:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB538'"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:66:     #21                TACC A     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:67:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 21 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB539'"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:67:     #21                TACC G     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:68:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer W130"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:68:     # 20               CTGA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:69:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer R130"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:69:     # 20               CTGG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:70:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB539'15"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:70:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:71:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB539'15"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:71:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:72:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB553"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:72:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:73:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB554"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:73:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:74:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 14 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB555"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:74:     #     14     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:75:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 13 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB556"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:75:     #      13     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:76:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB561"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:76:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:77:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB562"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:77:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:78:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB559"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:78:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:79:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB560"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:79:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:80:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB557"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:80:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:81:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 15 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid     #= "Oligonucleotide primer JB558"     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:81:     #    15     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:82:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 504 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..504     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #transcribed spacer region of Fusarium culmorum                    (fculm.con)"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:82:     - GAGGGATCAT TACCGAGTTT ACTRACTCCC AAACCCCTGT GAACDTACCT TA - #TGTTGCCT       60     - CGGCGGATCA GCCCGCGCCC CGTAAAAAGG GACGGCCCGC CGCAGGAACC CT - #AAACTCTG      120     - TTTTTAGTGG AACTTCTGAG TATAAAAAAC AAATAAATCA AAACTTTCAA CA - #ACGGATCT      180     - CTTGGTTCTG GCATCGATGA AGAACGCAGC AAAATGCGAT AAGTAATGTG AA - #TTGCAGAA      240     - TTCAGTGAAT CATCGAATCT TTGAACGCAC ATTGCGCCCG CCAGTATTCT GG - #CGGGCATG      300     - CCTGTTCGAG CGTCATTTCA ACCCTCAAGC CCAGCTTGGT GTTGGGAGCT GC - #AGTCCTGC      360     - TGCACTCCCC AAATACATTG GCGGTCACGT CGRAGCTTCC ATAGCGTAGT AA - #TTTACATA      420     - TCGTTACTGG TAATCGTCGC GGCYACGCCG TTAAACCCCA ACTTCTGAAT GT - #TGACCTCG      480     #               504CCGC TGAA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:83:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 503 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..503     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #transcribed spacer region of Fusarium     #(fgram.con)"  graminearum     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:83:     - GGATCATTAC CGAGTTTACW SACTCCCAAA CCCCTGTGAA CATACCTTAT GT - #TGCCTCGG       60     - CGGATCAGCC CGCGCCCCGA AAGGGACGGC CCGCCGCAGG AACCCTAAAC TC - #TGTTTTTA      120     - GTGGAACTTC TGAGTATAAA AAACAAATAA ATCAAAACTT TCAACAACGG AT - #CTCTTGGT      180     - KCTGGCATCG ATGAAGAACG CASCRAAATG CGATAAGTAA TGTGWATTGC AG - #AATTCAGT      240     - GAATCAWCGA ATCTTTGAAC GCWSATTGCK MCCRCCAGTA TTCTGGCGGG CA - #TGCCTGTT      300     - CGAGCGTCAT TTCAACCCTC AAGCCCAGVT TGGTGTKGGG GARYTGCAGK CC - #TRYTKCAC      360     - TCCCCAAATA ARTTGGCGGT CACGTCGAAC TTCCATAGCG TAGTAAGTTA CA - #CATCGTTA      420     - CTGGTAATCG TCGCGGCTAC GCCGTTAAAC CCCAACTTCT GAATGTTGAC CT - #CGGATCAG      480     #               503AAGG TAA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:84:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 353 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..353     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #transcribed spacer region of Fusarium     #(fmono.con)"  moniliforme     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:84:     - TCCGTAGGTG AACCTGCGGA TAGGRGTCAT TASMGAGTTT ACWACTSCCA AA - #CCCCTGTG       60     - AAYATACCTT ATGTTGCSTC GGCGGATCAG CCCGCGCSCC GTARRAAGGG AC - #GGCCCGCC      120     - GCAGGAACCC TAAACTCTGT TTTTAGTGGA ACTTCTGAGT ATAAAAAACA AA - #TAAATCAA      180     - AACTTTCAAC AACGGATCTC TTGGTTCTGG CATCGATGAA GAACGCAGCA AA - #ATGCGATA      240     - AGTAATGTGA ATTGCAGAAT TCAGTGAATC ATCGAATCTT TGAACGCACA TT - #GYGMCCGC      300     - CAGTATTCTG GCGGGCATGC CTGTTCGAGC GTCATTTCAA CCCTCAAGCC CA - #G      353     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:85:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 545 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..545     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #transcribed spacer region of Microdochium nivale                    (mnivale.txt - #)"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:85:     - GCGGATCATT ACAGAGTTGC AAAACTCCCT AAACCATTGT GAACGTTACC TA - #TACCGTTG       60     - CTTCGGCGGG CGGCCCCGGG GTTTACCCCC CGGRAGYCCC TGGKMCCCAC CG - #CGGGSGCC      120     - MGCCGGAGGT CACCAAACTC TTGATAATTT ATGGCCTCTC TGAGTCTTCT GT - #ACTGAATA      180     - AGTCAAAACT TTCAACAACG GATCTCTTGG TTCTGGCATC GATGAAGAAC GC - #AGCGAAAT      240     - GCGATAAGTA ATGTGAATTG CAGAATTCAG TGAATCATCG AATCTTTGAA CG - #CACATTGC      300     - GCCCGCCAGC ATTCTGGCGG GCATGCCTGT TCGAGCGTCA TTTCAACCAT CA - #AGCCCCCG      360     - GGCTTGTGTT GGGGACCTRC GGCTGCCGCA GGCCCTGAAA AGCAGTGKCG GG - #CTCGCTGT      420     - CGCACCGAGM GTAGTAGSAT ACATCTCGCT CTGGTCGCGC CGCGGGTTCC GG - #CCGTTAAA      480     - CCACCTTTTT AACCCAAGGT TGACCTCGGA TCAGGTAGGA AGACCCGCTG AA - #CTTACGCA      540     #           545     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:86:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 563 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #feature               (B) LOCATION: 1..563     #/note= "DNA sequence for theON:     #transcribed spacer of Septoria avenae f. sp.     #ATCC# 26380 (satits.con)"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:86:     - TCCCGTAGGT GAACCTGCGG AAGGATCATT ACACTCAGTA GTTTACTACT GT - #AAAGGAGG       60     - CTGTTAGTCT GTATAGCGCA AGCTGATGAG CAGCTAGCCT CTTTTATCCA CC - #CTTGTCTT      120     - TTGCGTACCC ACGTTTCCTC GGCAGGCTTG CCTGCCGATT GGACAAACCT AT - #AACCTTTT      180     - TAATTTTCAA TCAGCGTCTG AAAAACTTAA TAATTACAAC TTTCAACAAC GG - #ATCTCTTG      240     - GTTCTGGCAT CGATGAAGAA CGCAGCGAAA TGCGATAAGT AGTGTGAATT GC - #AGAATTCA      300     - GTGAATCATC GAATCTTTGA ACGCACATTG CGCCCCTTGG TATTCCATGG GG - #CATGCCTG      360     - TTCGAGCGTC ATTTGTACCC TCAAGCTCTG CTTGGTGTTG GGTGTTTGTC CT - #CTCCCTAG      420     - TGTTTGGACT CGCCTTAAAA TAATTGGCAG CCAGTGTTTT GGTAYTGAAG CG - #CAGCACAA      480     - GTCGCGATTC TTATCAAATA CTTGCGTCCA CAAGCCCTTT TTTAACTTTT GA - #CCTCGGAT      540     #               563GACT TAA     __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence selected from the group consisting of: ITS1 of Septoria tritici, ITS2 of Septoria tritici, ITS1 of Septoria nodorum, ITS2 of Septoria nodorum, ITS1 of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W, ITS2 of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W, ITS1 of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R, ITS2 of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R, ITS1 of Mycosphaerella fijiensis, ITS2 of Mycosphaerella fijiensis, ITS1 of Mycosphaerella musicola, and ITS2 of Mycosphaerella musicola.
 2. An isolated Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence according to claim 1, wherein said Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence is either ITS1 or ITS2 of Septoria tritici.
 3. A method for the detection of Septoria tritici, comprising the steps of:(a) determining the nucleotide sequence of an Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence according to claim 2; (b) designing at least one PCR primer having sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence determined in step (a); (c) isolating DNA from plant tissue infected with Septoria tritici; (d) subjecting said DNA isolated from said plant tissue to polymerase chain reaction amplification using said at least one PCR primer; and (e) detecting Septoria tritici by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 4. An Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequence according to claim 1, wherein said Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence is either ITS1 or ITS2 of Septoria nodorum.
 5. A method for the detection of Septoria nodorum, comprising the steps of:(a) determining the nucleotide sequence of an Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence according to claim 4; (b) designing at least one PCR primer having sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence determined in step (a); (c) isolating DNA from plant tissue infected with Septoria nodorum; (d) subjecting said DNA isolated from said plant tissue to polymerase chain reaction amplification using said at least one PCR primer; and (e) detecting Septoria nodorum by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 6. An Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequence according to claim 1, wherein said Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence is either ITS1 or ITS2 of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W.
 7. A method for the detection of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W, comprising the steps of:(a) determining the nucleotide sequence of an Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence according to claim 6; (b) designing at least one PCR primer having sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence determined in step (a); (c) isolating DNA from plant tissue infected with Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W; (d) subjecting said DNA isolated from said plant tissue to polymerase chain reaction amplification using said at least one PCR primer; and (e) detecting Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 8. An Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequence according to claim 1, wherein said Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence is either ITS1 or ITS2 of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R.
 9. A method for the detection of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R, comprising the steps of:(a) determining the nucleotide sequence of an Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence according to claim 8; (b) designing at least one PCR primer having sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence determined in step (a); (c) isolating DNA from plant tissue infected with Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R; (d) subjecting said DNA isolated from said plant tissue to polymerase chain reaction amplification using said at least one PCR primer; and (e) detecting Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 10. An Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequence according to claim 1, wherein said Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence is either ITS1 or ITS2 of Mycosphaerella fijiensis.
 11. A method for the detection of Mycosphaerella fijiensis, comprising the steps of:(a) determining the nucleotide sequence of an Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence according to claim 10; (b) designing at least one PCR primer having sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence determined in step (a); (c) isolating DNA from plant tissue infected with Mycosphaerella fijiensis; (d) subjecting said DNA isolated from said plant tissue to polymerase chain reaction amplification using said at least one PCR primer; and (e) detecting Mycosphaerella fijiensis by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 12. An Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequence according to claim 1, wherein said Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence is either ITS1 or ITS2 of Mycosphaerella musicola.
 13. A method for the detection of Mycosphaerella musicola, comprising the steps of:(a) determining the nucleotide sequence of an Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence according to claim 12; (b) designing at least one PCR primer having sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence determined in step (a); (c) isolating DNA from plant tissue infected with Mycosphaerella musicola; (d) subjecting said DNA isolated from said plant tissue to polymerase chain reaction amplification using said at least one PCR primer; and (e) detecting Mycosphaerella musicola by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 14. An isolated Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence selected from the group consisting of: nucleotides 31-172 of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 329-490 of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 31-216 of SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 373-525 of SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 31-262 of SEQ ID NO:3, nucleotides 31-263 of SEQ ID NO:47, nucleotides 419-568 of SEQ ID NO:3, nucleotides 420-569 of SEQ ID NO:47, nucleotides 31-263 of SEQ ID NO:4, nucleotides 420-570 of SEQ ID NO:4, nucleotides 31-171 of SEQ ID NO:5, nucleotides 328-476 of SEQ ID NO:5, nucleotides 31-180 of SEQ ID NO:6, and nucleotides 337-482 of SEQ ID NO:6.
 15. An oligonucleotide primer for use in amplification-based detection of a fungal Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of a sequence selected from the group consisting of: nucleotides 31-172 of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 329-490 of SEQ ID NO: 1, nucleotides 31-216 of SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 373-525 of SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 31-262 of SEQ ID NO:3, nucleotides 31-263 of SEQ ID NO:47, nucleotides 419-568 of SEQ ID NO:3, nucleotides 420-569 of SEQ ID NO:47, nucleotides 31-263 of SEQ ID NO:4, nucleotides 420-570 of SEQ ID NO:4, nucleotides 31-108 or 130-171 of SEQ ID NO:5, nucleotides 328-476 of SEQ ID NO:5, nucleotides 31-120 or 139-180 of SEQ ID NO:6, and nucleotides 337-482 of SEQ ID NO:6.
 16. A method for the detection of a fungal pathogen, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with a pathogen; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 15; and (c) detecting said fungal pathogen by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said fungal pathogen is selected from the group consisting of: Septoria tritici, Septoria nodorum, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, and Mycosphaerella musicola.
 18. A diagnostic kit used in detecting a fungal pathogen, comprising at least one primer according to claim
 15. 19. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 31-172 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 20. A method for the detection of Septoria tritici, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Septoria tritici; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 19; and (c) detecting Septoria tritici by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 21. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 329-490 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 22. A method for the detection of Septoria tritici, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Septoria tritici; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 21; and (c) detecting Septoria tritici by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 23. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 31-216 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 24. A method for the detection of Septoria nodorum, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Septoria nodorum; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 23; and (c) detecting Septoria nodorum by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 25. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 373-525 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 26. A method for the detection of Septoria nodorum, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Septoria nodorum; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 25; and (c) detecting Septoria nodorum by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 27. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 31-262 of SEQ ID NO:3 or nucleotides 31-263 of SEQ ID NO:47.
 28. A method for the detection of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 27; and (c) detecting Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 29. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 419-568 of SEQ ID NO:3 or nucleotides 420-569 of SEQ ID NO:47.
 30. A method for the detection of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 29; and (c) detecting Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain W by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 31. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 31-263 of SEQ ID NO:4.
 32. A method for the detection of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 31; and (c) detecting Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 33. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 420-570 of SEQ ID NO:4.
 34. A method for the detection of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 33; and (c) detecting Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides strain R by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 35. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 31-108 or 130-171 of SEQ ID NO:5.
 36. A method for the detection of Mycosphaerella fijiensis, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Mycosphaerella fijiensis; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 35; and (c) detecting Mycosphaerella fijiensis by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 37. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 328-476 of SEQ ID NO:5.
 38. A method for the detection of Mycosphaerella fijiensis, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with a pathogen; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 37; and (c) detecting Mycosphaerella fijiensis by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 39. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 31-120 or 139-180 of SEQ ID NO:6.
 40. A method for the detection of Mycosphaerella musicola, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Mycosphaerella musicola; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 39; and (c) detecting Mycosphaerella musicola by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification.
 41. An oligonucleotide primer according to claim 15, wherein said primer has sequence identity with at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 337-482 of SEQ ID NO:6.
 42. A method for the detection of Mycosphaerella musicola, comprising the steps of:(a) isolating DNA from a plant leaf infected with Mycosphaerella musicola; (b) subjecting said DNA to polymerase chain reaction amplification using at least one primer according to claim 41; and (c) detecting Mycosphaerella musicola by visualizing the product or products of said polymerase chain reaction amplification. 